Swiss glaciers shed 5% of ice in record summer of 2026
More than 5 per cent of Switzerland's total glacier ice melted in 2026 alone.
Europe's record-breaking summer triggered unprecedented glacier melt across the Alps. More than 5 per cent of Swiss glacier ice vanished in 2026, with the Rhone glacier losing 10 metres of thickness in just four summer months.
Glaciologist Mattias Huss called the loss "unprecedented" despite 100 years of continuous retreat. Several heatwaves starting in May, combined with little winter snow, created the staggering melt.
Over the past five years, Swiss glaciers have shed almost one-fifth of their total ice. Glaciers supply crucial water during droughts and heatwaves, but shrinking ice means less backup during dry periods.
Scientists warn many small Alpine glaciers cannot recover even if global warming stabilises.
- More than 5%
- Ice lost in 2026
- 10 metres in 4 months
- Rhone glacier thinning
- Almost one-fifth
- Ice lost in 5 years
- About 20
- Glaciers studied in detail
Why it mattersGlacier collapse signals climate urgency and threatens Europe's water supply during future heatwaves.
AustraliaAustralia's snow-fed mountain regions face similar risks as glaciers shrink worldwide, reducing summer water flow when drought hits.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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